Friday afternoon crash on Interstate 29 slows traffic

THOMPSON, N.D. — A crash on Interstate 29 south of Grand Forks caused a reduction in lanes and affected traffic for approximately three hours.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Friday, July 12, on the southbound lane of I-29 just outside of Thompson.

It involved a 2020 International truck with flatbed trailer, driven by Vaughn Cormie, 57, of Winnipeg, and a 2010 Freightliner truck driven by Daniel Yakubco, 62, of Bismarck.

According to a North Dakota Highway Patrol report, “Cormie was driving the International south on Interstate 29. Yakubco was driving the Freightliner south as part of a roadway stripe painting convoy, exiting southbound Interstate 29 at Exit 130. Cormie failed to recognize the Freightliner ahead was moving more slowly, and the International rear-ended the Freightliner. The International came to rest on the shoulder, but the Freightliner came to rest in the right-hand lane of southbound traffic.”

Cormie was charged with failure to maintain control-distracted driving.

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